British Gas Homecare - Powerflush recommended at £700!
I've just had a British Gas engineer visit to fix my boiler under the homecare agreement. He says that we need a powerflush and has quoted about £700 for it. He also says that they will not attend any more call outs as they have recommended a course of action and we will be in neglect of out boiler (therefore outside of our agreement he is probably insinuating).
Is this fairly typical of the cost of a powerflush or can we go for a different company to carry out the work? I don't want BG to refuse to service our boiler because they didn't do the work.
The problem with the boiler is that the pilot light isn't coming on and it is showing pump failure on the diagnostics. Just had a new pump fitted on sunday but the boiler broke down again within 24 hours.
All Comments (64)
Jump to unread Post a CommentThat said, £700 is A LOT of money to pay for a powerful... My local plumbers have all quoted me between 400-500 this week for the job on a house with 4 bedrooms (about 10 radiators). A quick Google also suggests there are plenty of companies (in my area - London), that'll do a power flush for even less, circa £250-350.
The big question here is what British Gas will "accept". You'll need to speak to them. If you provide evidence by way of a receipt to show it's been power flushed then I do not see why they won't reinstate your contract. I would NOT get British Gas to power flush - I've not heard great things, in essence, they're a rip off.
Speak to BG, check they'll reinstate your cover by way of evidence a powerflush has been completed, then phone around some local plumbers to find out how much they charge. Be careful, there are cowboys out there. Google is your friend here too, and there's lots of info on moneysavingexpert forums too.
Good luck!
The following are not included in your Agreement:
• Removing sludge or hard-water scale from your system or
appliance.
• Repairing damage caused by scale, sludge or other debris if
we have told you on a previous visit that permanent repairs,
improvements or a PowerFlush™ (or a similar cleaning
procedure) are needed to help ensure your appliance/system
works properly.
So if you want to stay with Homecare you'll need to get it fixed but as others have said will BG accept it being flushed by a 3rd party? Personally I'd get it done cheaply (if it needs doing) and take out cover with someone else.....
Edited By: gari189 on Apr 24, 2012 15:03
I'm not suggesting this company but their costs are a lot lower
Edited By: Alfonse on Apr 24, 2012 15:50: ukfkj
^^^^^^^^^^^^ this
when i had my old boiler, they could not get to the bottom of what was causing the problems, and kept coming out and replacing everything they could possibly think of, at each time they kept saying the next course would be a powerflush but each time they replaced something else, the last time they came out they replaced the actual tank and the feeder tank in the attic, and it sorted it no powerflush was needed but they kept pushing for it, thankfully the blokes that came out kept persevering with it
also if the powerflush does not solve the problem, what then? are british gas going to sort the problem or wash their hands of the cover you took out
Edited By: sassie on Apr 24, 2012 15:48
I would assume the pump breaking after 24hrs was a fairly good indicator
I think you'll find no insurance covers sludge
I would assume the pump breaking after 24hrs was a fairly good indicator
fair enough although OP didnt state the new pump had broken down :p
Edited By: Havince on Apr 24, 2012 16:07
Just like sassie, numerous parts have been changed on the boiler in the hope of finding what was wrong but the problem keeps coming back. I think the power flush is just another (albeit very expensive for me) guess at the problem. If I get it done and the problem returns then I shall ask for a refund of my money or take then to court. Can't let them get away with it.
although they kept hinting at sludge and a powerwash on mine they could not show any evidence that one was needed, thankfully i kept pushing
Edited By: sassie on Apr 24, 2012 16:24
Just like sassie, numerous parts have been changed on the boiler in the hope of finding what was wrong but the problem keeps coming back. I think the power flush is just another (albeit very expensive for me) guess at the problem. If I get it done and the problem returns then I shall ask for a refund of my money or take then to court. Can't let them get away with it.
the water released from your system *say out of the rad bleed valve should be discoloured ida thought*
although they kept hinting at sludge and a powerwash on mine they could not show any evidence that one was needed, thankfully i kept pushing
I asked the engineer the very same question but all he would say is that it is guaranteed. I asked what would happened if the same problem returned and all he said was that they would not charge me again but that's not the issue!
His house was built in the last 5/7 years.
The pipes behind the wall are plastic then metal to the rads.
Some how air etc seaps into system and it clogs up with sludge.
He paid £850.00 i think but bg will then come back and flush again at their cost and still cover him.
Before flushing took about 1.30 hours to heat the house.
Now 20 mins with snow on the ground.